13th October 2017

Who Is On The Lord’s Side?

“Moses saw that the people were simply running wild—Aaron had let them run wild, disgracing themselves before their enemies. He took up a position at the entrance to the camp and said, ‘Whoever is on God’s side, join me!’ All the Levites stepped up.”Exodus 32:25-26 (MSG)

Who is on the Lord’s side? According to a recent poll, not as many as there used to be. A UK survey, published in the summer, explained that the non-religious count is on the increase. In fact, 53% of those asked said they had no faith of any kind.

Some Christians may recall Frances Havergal’s hymn of the same name. Frances Havergal (1836-1879) was a child prodigy who devoted her life to Jesus. She studied Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and composed mainly hymns, among them such well known pieces as Take My Life and Let It Be and Like a River Glorious.

When Moses asked the question, he was exasperated. Instead of celebrating the grace of God in his delivering them from the Egyptians, the Israelites were disgracing themselves by doing what they thought was right in their own eyes. A poll would have revealed that most had abandoned the one and only God who had saved them.

Of course, declaring that we are on God’s side is a response to the realization that God is and has been and will always be “for us”, as Paul states in Romans 8:31. In understanding that we belong to him and that he is “for us”, we can declare with confidence that we are on the Lord’s side.

Frances Havergal’s hymn goes like this:Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side — Saviour, we are Thine!

Did you note the wording? By God’s grace divine, we are on the Lord’s side.

Let’s stand up and be counted.

Prayer
Thank you, Father, that, by your grace, we are counted on your side. Help us please to have the boldness to stand up for you. In Jesus’ name.
Amen

Study by James Henderson

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About the Author:James Henderson is the National Ministry Leader for Grace Communion International in the UK and Ireland.

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